Implement for laying model railway tracks



y 31, 1951 c. D. WEBSTER 2,562,287

IMPLEMENT FOR LAYING MODEL RAILWAY TRACKS Filed Aug. 7, 1946 24 22 39 222O 38 39 J6 N W 26 m INVENTOR CAR/1E D. 11/59575 ATTORNEYS Patented July31, 1951 IMPLEMENT FOR LAYING MODEL RAILWAY TRACKS Carmen D. Webster,Jackson Heights, N. Y. Application August '7, 1946, Serial No. 688,883

This invention relates to implements for facilitating the laying ofrails of tracks for model railways. In making model railways,particularly those designed to simulate accurately in appearance'andoperation actual railways, it is customary to provide a base or road bedfor the tracks usually made of wood, fiber or the like which may beformed on its surface to simulate cross ties,

or may be used with separate ties or tie strips, and to provide separaterails of conventional cross section held to the ties and base by smallspikes. The present, invention comprises instrumentalities forfacilitatin the proper spacing of the rails and securing them in placeby means of the small nails or spikes;

In actual railway construction, curves of large radius are used, and thegauge of the track is held constant. To prevent binding of the wheels ofrolling stock with a long rigid wheelbase, such as a large locomotive,on curves, the back to back spacing of the wheels on the end axles ofsuch equipment is made slightly smaller than normal. On model railways,usually constructed in limited space and necessarily using curves ofmuch shorter radius, it is not practical to use this method, butprevention of binding is obtained by increasing the track gauge ininverse relationship to the radius of the curve.

It is an object of the invention to provide a gauging device forproperly spacing the rails apart on either straight or curved modelrailway track, the device automatically increasing the gauge on curvesin inverse relationship-to the radius of the curve.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a gauging devicecombined with guides for properly locating the spikes and facilitatingthe driviIlg thereof.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a combined guide andspike driving tool.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown one preferred embodiment ofthe invention in order to illustrate the principles thereof, but it isto be understood that the invention may be embodied in modifiedconstructions.

11 Claims. (01.104-43) 2 Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1shows a conventional track base or road bed I usually made of wood onwhich are placed the cross ties i2. The invention, however, is notlimited for use with a road bed or ties of this type, as it maybe usedwith any type of road bed for ties.

The miniature rails which are preferably of conventional T sectionareshown at 20. These are secured to the ties by means of small nails orspikes 22 which are driven in at each side of the rail base and haveheads 24 overlying the edges of the base flanges 26 of the rails'in themanner of actual railroad construction. If individual ties or thin tiestrips are used, the spikes should be long enough to go through the tiesand secure the ties to the road bed as shown in Figure 2. Si! is thegauge member and spike guide and comprises a body of metal having spacedlugs 32 projecting from one side thereof and a single lug 34 projectingfrom the opposite side thereof. Each of the lugs is provided on itsunder surface with a longitudinal groove, the two lugs 32 having alignedgrooves 36 and the lug 34 having a groove 'the single lug 34intermediate thereof'at the .30

other side, it is possible to use'the gauge block on curved tracks ofvarious radii of curvature, as wall as on straight track. When used on acurved track, the single lug 34 should point towards the center of thecurvature of the track, as shown in Fig. 1.

By the use of the gauge member as described, as shown in Fig. 1, it willbe seen that the gauge of the track is greater than it would he were thetrack straight, and this increase in gauge becomes greater as the radiusof the curve becomes smaller. It will be seen also that on straighttrack the grooves in the two lugs on one side hold the gauge member sothat the groove in the single lug on thc'other side is at the requiredgauge distance, as there is no possibility of applying the gauge memberat any but a right angle. Naturally, if the gauge body were at any otherangle, the track gauge would be decreased' The use of the gauge memberwith the two spaced track engaging grooves fitting the outer rail of thecurve, and the single intermediate groove fitting the inner rail of thecurve'results in the desired increase in the gauge around the curve,such increase being greater as the radius of curvature is shorter. Thisis so because the 1 as shown-in the righthand side of Figure 2.

distance between a straight line passing through the pair of grooves anda parallel line passing through the single intermediate groove is equalto the normal gauge of a straight piece of track. On a curved track, onthe other hand, the line joining the two spaced grooves constitutes thechord of the arc subtended by such grooves. At its center this are isobviously spaced from its chord by distance. which increases with thesharpness of curvaturathe distance being greater if the radius ofcurvature is smaller and vice versa.

the arc of the outer rail radially opposite thereto, is greater than thenormal straight gauge; The use of the gauge member inthe mannerdescribed thus results in a widening of the gauge on curves, suchwidening depending uponi'the' degree of curvature.

For.- properly locating andguiding thespikes, onerof the lugs 32 and'theintermediate lug 34 are provided with vertical guide holes 39 whichextend entirely through the lugs and whichare of 'sufiicient size topermit the shanks andheads of? the: spikesto slide'therethrough. The.upper parts of the holes are preferably tapered as. indicated at 40 tofacilitate introduction of the spikes and driving to 01.

The'thicknessof the-member 3D is preferably greater. thanthe lengthofthespike used, so that when thespikes are dropped into the holes theywill be completely received therein leaving a small unoccupied space atthe top of the hole above the head of the spike. tion of the spikedriving toolshown in Figure 2 which comprisesa body 44 carrying a pairof protecting punch members 46 of such size "as to slideinto-the holesabove the heads of the. spikes.

ThemembersAB. are as long as or longer than the thickness of thevmember-30,-so that the body- 44 of the-tool can be hammeredor. forceddownwardly until the I spikes are driven completely home into-engagementwith the base of-the. rail fact that the spikesare held in the guidingholes while being driven into position assures the properlocationof thespikes and'also that they shall be driven straight andwith their headsbrought into-proper engagement with the base of therailw The two holesin each lug are spaced justfar enough apart to accomplishthis result.

Preferably, the bottoms of the punch members 43 are slightlybeveled-inreverse directionsas indicated at 48 as this Will help toforce theheads of the. spikes tightly againstthe railbase'flanges.

The spacing .ofthelugs32 and 34 is preferably suchthatthe space.betweenonev of the lugs 32 having holestherein and thelug 34 is. equalto. the distance betweentwo successive ties or to. a multiple of thatdistance, such. as-the distance between alternate. ties.. Withthisspacingit is possible to .set. the gauge block in such. a way that apairs of spikes. may be inserted in. each pair ot-holes, and :bothrails-may be secured with pairs .of. spikes. for a .single setting ofthe gauge block.

The gauge block aswell as guiding thespikes also holds. therailsproperly spaced apart so that a track of true gaugeis. constructed.

The. spacingof. the lugs=32 at. a considerable distance apart. with thelug. 34 spaced midway betweenthem isimportant, as. the. wide spacingproducedan adequate enlargement of. the. gauge of thetrack upon curvesas is-required bygood model railway. practice. For example,. thespacingof.

Accordingly the gauge of the track on. the curve which is of course thedistance from the inner intermediate groove to the point on.

This facilitates the applica- The,

the lugs 32, with each lug spaced at a distance from the transverse axispassing through the lug 34 equal to the distance between tw successiveties or a multiple of that distance, results in lugs 32 being spacedapart a distance at least equal to the distance between alternate ties,while in the example shown in Fig. 1 twice this spacing is utilized.With the customary spacing of ties indicated the narrowerzseparationofzthe lugs 32 will therefore be somewhere near thegauge of the track,while the larger limit will be closer to twice this spacing.

While. I have illustrated and described in detail certain preferredforms of my invention, it is to be understood that changes may be madetherein and the. invention embodied in other structures. I do nottherefore desire to limit myself to the specific constructionsillustrated, but intend to cover the invention broadly in whatever formits principles may be utilized.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. .A track laying implement for model railways comprising a gauge bodyhaving twospacedllu'gs at one. side thereof widely spacedwith referenceto the gauge of the track, andasinglelug at'the other side thereofintermediate said spaced lugs, said ,lugs, having rail. engaginggroovesformed therein.

2i Atrack laying. implement fonmodel railways comprising a gauge bodyhaving. two spacedlugs at one side. thereof, and a single lug at theother side thereof intermediate said spaced lugs, said lugs. havingvrail engaging grooves formed therein, at least one of the lugs on eachside of the. body having a vertical spike guide hole therethrough;

3. A track laying implement for model railways comprising a gauge bodyhaving two spacedlugs atone side thereof, and a single lug at the otherside thereof intermediate said spaced lugs, said lugs having. railengaging grooves formed therein, at least one of the lugs on each sideof the. block having a pair of'.transv.ersely spaced vertical spikeguide .holes extending'therethrough.

4. A track laying implement for model railways comprising a gauge bodyhaving two spaced lugs havinga pair of transversely spaced verticalspike guide holes extending therethrough,.the vertical dimensions ofsaid lugs being greater than the length of the: spikes to be usedtherewith.

5. A track laying implement for model railways comprising a bodyhavingspaced vertical spike guide holes" extending therethrough .incombination with aspike driving member comprising a body having spacedvertical spike setting pins extending downwardly from said body, saidspike setting pins being of such size and sospaced as to slide freelythrough said spike guide holes, .said spike setting pins havingreversely beveled lower endsfacing towards each other..

6. A track laying implementfor. model railways comprising a gaugebody.havingtwo-spaced-lugs at one side thereof and a single. lug. atthe otherside thereof intermediate said spaced lugs, said lugs having railengaging, grooves formed therein, at least one of the lugs on eachside.of the block having .a pair of transversely spaced vertical spike guideholes extending therethrough,.in combination. with a spike drivingmember comprisinga body having a pair of spaced vertical pins pro- J' cingdownwardly therefrom, adapted toupass through said spaced guideholes.

7. A track laying implement for model railways comprising a gauge bodyhaving two spaced lugs at one Side thereof and a single lug at the otherside thereof intermediate said spaced lugs, said lugs having railengaging grooves formed therein, at least one of the lugs on each sideof the block having a pair of transversely spaced vertical spike guideholes extending therethrough, the vertical dimensions of said lugs beinggreater than the length of the spikes to be used therewith, incombination with a spike driving member comprising a body having a pairof spaced vertical pins projecting downwardly therefrom adapted to passthrough said spaced guide holes, said projecting pins being at least aslong as the vertical dimensions of said lugs.

8. A track laying implement for model railways comprising a gauge bodyhaving two spaced rail engaging formations at one side thereof, and asingle rail engaging formation at the other side thereof intermediatesaid two spaced formations, said formations constiuting the apices of atriangle and being so constructed as to maintain said gauge body indefinite angular relationship with any portion of the track rails withwhich the three formations are in engagement said first two spaced railengaging formations being spaced apart a distance at least equal to thedistance between alternate cross ties.

9. A track laying implement for model railways comprising a gauge bodyhaving two spaced rail engaging formations at one side thereof, and asingle rail engaging formation at the other side midway of said twospaced formations, said formations constituting the apices of atriangle, said two spaced formations being spaced apart a distance notless than approximately the gauge of the track.

10. A track laying implement for model railways comprising a gauge bodyhaving two spaced rail engaging formations at one side thereof, and asingle rail engaging formation at the other side midway of said twospaced formations, the spacing of said two spaced formations beingsuflicient to cause an increase in the gauge of the track on curves,sufiicient to accommodate free passage of a model vehicle around saidcurve without binding of the wheel flanges on the rails.

11. A track laying implement as claimed in claim 10 in which the railengaging formations are lugs having rail engaging grooves therein, saidgrooves being deep enough to substantially receive the heads and webs ofthe rails.

CARMEN D. WEBSTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 421,908 Close Feb. 25, 1890434,529 Sorenson Aug. 19, 1890 490,705 Altmann Jan. 31, 1893 645,087Green Mar. 13, 1900 688,106 Lynd Dec. 3, 1901 883,685 Barceloux Apr. 7,1908 993,869 Peasley May 30, 1911 1,321,909 Hastings Nov. 18, 19191,395,703 Ekberg Nov. 1, 1921

